Method for determining an impact of a difference between two production processes on a product's carbon footprint

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining an impact of a difference between two production processes on a product carbon footprint, PCF, of a product produced using the production process. The computer-implemented method comprises receiving first production process data comprising information about a first production process for a product, receiving second production process data comprising information about a second production process different to the first production process, determining, based on the first production process data, a first PCF of the product associated with producing the product using, the first production process; determining, based on the second production process data a second of the product associated with producing the product using the second PCF production process, determining the impact of the difference between the first and second production process by comparing the first and second PCF with each other, and outputting the determined impact on the product's PCF.

1 . A computer-implemented method for determining an impact of a difference between two production processes on a product carbon footprint, PCF, of a product produced using the production processes, the method comprising:
 receiving first production process data comprising information about a first production process for a product;   receiving second production process data comprising information about a second production process different to the first production process;   determining, based on the first production process data, a first PCF of the product associated with producing the product using the first production process;   determining, based on the second production process data, a second PCF of the product associated with producing the product using the second production process;   determining the impact of the difference between the first and second production process by comparing the first and second PCF with each other; and   outputting the determined impact on the product's PCF.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is carried out prior to an actual implementation of the second production process within a production planning phase. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second production process comprises an extension of the and/or a change in at least one production step compared to the first production process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the impact of the difference between the first and second production process on the product's PCF is output via a user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second production process data is received via a user interface configured to allow the user, starting from the first production process, to make a change and/or extension to it to obtain the second production process data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured for providing the user with a selection of production process and/or product modifications as a blueprint or reference from which a change and/or extension to the first production process (PP 1 ) can be selected to obtain the second production process data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 checking the first production process data and/or second production process data for consistency, particularly checking for a closed production chain.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 adjusting the first production process data and/or second production process data based on the checking for consistency.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 additionally comparing the second PCF to at least one reference PCF used as a PCF target value; and   adjusting the first production process data and/or second production process data based on the comparison with the at least one reference PCF.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a ratio between the difference between the first and second production process and an extend of production equipment adjustments associated with the difference between the first and second production process.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first PCF and/or second PCF is determined by:
 receiving a carbon footprint of raw material used for producing the product;   receiving energy data comprising information about an energy consumption for each production process step; and   calculating the one first PCF and/or second PCF of the product taking into account the fist and/or second production process data, the carbon footprint of raw material and the energy data.   
     
     
         12 . A method for monitoring and/or controlling production of a product comprising using an impact of a different between two production processes on a product carbon footprint of the product, wherein the impact is determined by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable data medium storing a computer program including instructions for executing steps of the method according to a  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A system for determining an impact of a difference between two production processes on a product carbon footprint, PCF, of a product produced using the production process, the system comprising:
 an input interface, configured to receive receiving first production process data comprising information about a first production process for a product and second production process data comprising information about a second production process different to the first production process;   a processor, configured to:   determine, based on the first production process data, a first PCF of the product associated with producing the product using the first production process;   determine, based on the second production process data, a second PCF of the product associated with producing the product using the second production process;   determine the impact of the difference between the first and second production process by comparing the first and second PCF with each other; and   an output interface, configured to output the determined impact on the product's PCF.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the output interface comprises a user interface at least configured to display the determined impact on the product's PCF for further processing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second production process comprises an extension of the and/or a change in at least one production step compared to the first production process. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface is configured for providing the user with a selection of production process and/or product modifications as a blueprint or reference from which a change and/or extension to the first production process can be selected to obtain the second production process data.